About us

Mmm….the Sweet Life in Italy. Imagine it now – arriving at Il Borghino, a 4-building meticulously restored country estate positioned on a hill top with magnificent views of the region. Waking up to panoramic views of olive groves, vineyards, forests, and distant mountains.

Easing out of bed and heading to the yoga studio to gently move body with an early morning stretch. Meandering to breakfast and being served locally sourced farm to table offerings, freshly made fruit and vegetable juices, coffee and organic teas. Preparing for the day in spacious Tuscan style surroundings. Deciding to either participate in the activity planned for the day or relax at the estate.

What’s Included?Included in the price of this trip are 5 specially selected activities to give us a taste and experience of the region:- an evening out in Pietrasanta, a guided bike & walking tour of Lucca, a walking & wine excursion, a cooking class, and a day trip to the incredible Cinque Terre.

Our final night will be filled with a celebratory pizza and prosecco dinner together. (Meals are included except one lunch and dinner while out on excursion). These activities will take approximately 3-4 hours, except the full day in Cinque Terry which is 8-hour outing. Please note there is additional free time in which you may choose to participate in other optional other activities, spa treatments or do nothing but soak up life at Il Borghino.

Our days round out with a late lunch, an afternoon yoga stretch to relax the body, followed by a freshly made regional meal served with local wine and al fresco dining (weather permitting).

YogaWe have access to a fully-equipped yoga studio with Manduka mats, bolsters, blankets and straps as well as a stunning outdoor yoga shala set amongst vineyards and olive trees. With incredible views to the surrounding country side and the valley below, this is the perfect space to practice our sunset restorative yoga sessions.

LocationOur retreat home for the week will be Il Borghino, a beautiful estate that has been restored to provide elegant comfortable living in authentic Tuscan style. Wood beamed ceilings, stone, terracotta, marble – each bedroom has a gorgeous view of the Tuscan countryside. The estate is booked solely for our group of travelers and includes an outdoor salt-water pool, large communal living areas, a steam room and much more.

About the
Venue and Teacher

Literally meaning “small village”, Il Borghino offers a secluded setting in a hill top position with magnificent views overlooking forests, vineyards, olive groves and mountains in the distance. Located just 10 km from the charming medieval city of Lucca, Il Borghino offers an opportunity to truly relax and unwind in a unique location whilst experiencing the best that Tuscany has to offer.The retreat centre has been designed to maintain the original character of the village while still being both comfortable and modern. Meticulously restored with energy efficiency and a concern for the environment in mind, it has been completely restored using natural materials such as wood, marble and terracotta.With 11 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, our centre can accommodate both small and larger groups. Il Borghino retreat centre is ideally located 30 minutes from Pisa Airport, 1.5 hrs from Florence and 1.5 hrs from the breathtaking Cinque Terre region, making it the perfect base to explore Tuscany. ACCOMMODATION, ROOMS and FACILITIESIl Borghino comprises three separate houses and can accommodate up to 18 retreat participants plus two teachers. There are five twin bedrooms with private bathrooms, two twin bedrooms sharing one bathroom, two double rooms with private bathroom and two single rooms with private bathrooms. The rooms are large, simple and furnished tastefully in local Tuscan style, each with fabulous views from every window. There are fly screens on all windows and electric fans in every room. As the building is old, the walls are very thick which means the villa stays cool in the summer months. Each house is fully self-contained and offers every facility to meet the needs and privacy of both yoga teachers and retreat guests. Tea and coffee making facilities are also available in each house for use by retreat guests outside meal times.The large communal area, "L'Olivo", is the hub of the retreat centre – a place for retreat guests to gather during the day, enjoy meals together, share experiences and of course, practice daily yoga. There is a wood-fired pizza oven which we make use of during the retreat, and a gorgeous outdoor terrace with panoramic views for al fresco dining. Drinking water comes directly from a spring.There is a salt-water swimming pool with Jacuzzi that retreat guests can relax in whilst soaking up the views and a Turkish Sauna to help cleanse and detoxify during the week.YOGA & MEDITATION FACILITIESThere are indoor and outdoor spaces for practicing yoga – each with a unique atmosphere of peace and tranquillity for centering the mind and body. The indoor yoga room is located downstairs in the communal area with glass windows looking into the swimming pool. Constructed with wooden flooring, the yoga room can accommodate up to 18 participants plus 2 teacher(s) and is fully equipped with MANDUKA yoga mats, blankets, bolsters, belts and blocks. There is also a beautiful outdoor grassed yoga terrace with views overlooking the hills and olive groves which can be used in the warmer months for sunrise & sunset sessions, where one can fully savour the serenity of the Tuscan countryside.

About Cheryl ShillingtonCheryl is the owner and primary instructor of Yoga Glow Studio. She is a graduate of both the University of Western Ontario and Windsor University and has a degree in Social Work. She obtained her first 500 hour yoga teacher training in 2006 after nearly 9 years of personal practice. Later, in 2012 she received permission directly from Swami Vivekananda Saraswati to lead students in practice. She is honored to share her 20+ years of experience with her students. She is insightful and combines her knowledge of yoga, social work and rehab; inspiring students on their path.Study + ExperienceCheryl has studied and practiced Mindfulness, Ashtanga, Sivananda & Agama and weaves these into her classes.Beyond the studio, she leads retreats internationally and teaches mindfulness courses. She takes her classes out into the community presenting at wellness workshops and community events.Cheryl recognizes that each body brings a unique story to the mat. She often works with people individually to address their unique needs. Yoga can be adapted for any body. Postures are only one part of the practice. The full practice combines 8 limbs including moral & ethical guidelines, postures, breath work, mastery over the external influences, concentration and meditation leading to transcendence. Practice opens a doorway, allowing you to experience a deeper connection with yourself. She hopes that your sadhana (your practice) creates an awareness that what you are looking for is already inside of you.

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Retreat Guru's Vision

We believe human beings are innately wise, strong and kind. This wisdom, although not always experienced, is always present. Going on retreat is a beautiful way to reconnect to our basic sanity and health. Our aspiration at Retreat Guru is to inspire people to experience authentic retreats and reconnect with their innate wisdom, strength and kindness.